Chapter 2

Austin

Every morning, I wake up at the crack of dawn to feed my beloved horses. It's an essential part of my daily routine that I look forward to every day. I find peace and solace in the quiet of the early morning hours, and there's nothing quite like the smell of fresh hay and the sound of horses munching contentedly on their breakfast.

After tending to my equine friends, I head inside to start my day. I take a quick shower, eat a nutritious breakfast, and make myself a strong cup of coffee to kickstart my day. I throw on my favorite pair of wranglers, a tank top, and a hoodie to keep me warm on those chilly mornings. I complete my outfit with my trusty boots, ready to tackle whatever the day throws my way.

 But with my busy schedule, I don't always have time for cooking. That's why I'm grateful for my chef-made meals, which I can simply reheat and enjoy. They're so convenient and delicious that I save the containers for the chef to pick up at the next delivery. Cooking used to be a passion of mine, but with a business to run and horses to train, it's become less of a priority. This morning’s chores included finishing unloading the trailer and checking fences.

As I rode Tinman through the rolling green hills of the pasture, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. Being out here with my horse, surrounded by nature, was exactly what I needed after the chaos of moving to a new place.

I rode the perimeter of the fence, checking for any weak spots or areas that needed repair. Thankfully, everything seemed to be in order. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that I could soon let the horses out to enjoy this beautiful land.

 As we made our way back to the barn, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was to have everything I needed right here. The trailer, the RTV, and even my trusty Tinman were all in one place, ready for me to start this new chapter of my life.

 I dismounted and led Tinman back to the tack room, feeling grateful for the sense of familiarity that came with grooming and tacking up my horse. It was a routine I had done countless times before, and it brought a sense of comfort and normalcy to this new and unfamiliar place.

Finally, I can get the horses out to pasture. They have spent three long days in a trailer on the drive here. They must be dying to stretch out their legs and enjoy the fresh air. As I open the stall door to their run, they whinny with excitement, and I can't help but smile at their joy. I quickly unload them and lead them to the corral.

This place is efficient, and I am impressed. The corral connects the runs to the barn and the pastures. The corral has multiple gates, each opening to a distinct pasture. I let the horses out one by one, and eagerly run to their designated pasture. The lush green grass is a sight for sore eyes, and they start grazing immediately.

 As I watch them, I remember the mineral rights issue that the previous owner warned me about. I know I need to educate myself on what mineral rights are about. For now, I am just happy that my horses are happy. The sun is shining, and everything seems perfect. I stand there watching them for a while before heading back to the house.

 I leave the serenity of the barn to log into my Zoom meeting. Mr. Jones joins the Zoom meeting.  “Hello, Ms. Myers. I hope you made it to the farm without incident. 

Yes, Mr. Jones, all is well,” I reply.  “I looked at the documents from the email last night.  The first fourteen seem to be straightforward.  However, I am confused as to why would a farmer or rancher turn over their water and mineral rights to someone else and then have to pay that person to lease the water rights back?”

“Your grandfather won those in poker games,” Mr. Jones replied.  He put his hand up to stop me so he could continue.  “Your Grandfather was part of an underground poker club.  These clubs are illegal, but we know that doesn’t stop people.”

“Let me get this straight, my grandfather was part of an illegal gambling club, and when bettors couldn’t cover their bets, he took their water and mineral rights,” I question.

“No, the games are high stake games.  There was a minimum buy-in to be invited to participate in one of these games.  That is where minerals and water rights came in. So, when a player thinks they’re a great poker player and don’t have the cash, they would put in their water and mineral rights.” Mr. Jones describes.

“I don’t like it,” I say.  Then I clarify.  “I imagine a room of drunk men playing poker, and if I recall correctly, grandfather never drank. That I am aware of.”

“You are correct, Austin. He was not a drinker.”  Mr. Jones states.

“So, he pilfered these rights from drunk people.  Yes, I get that they decided to put their rights on the block, and they chose to drink.  But waiting for men to get drunk and make bad judgments is immoral.  I desire no part of it.  Deliver them all back to the families.  How do we do that?”  I request.

“Yo-You want to give them away,” Mr. Jones stutters.

“Yes, hand it back. Draw up the paperwork, and I will sign whatever it takes to make that transpire.  All ten water and mineral rights are to be repaid.

“I will work on the transfers.  I will contact each family, and they must come to the office. You must also go to my office, and we will have the documents notarized.”  Mr. Jones tells me.

“You get the families there, and I will arrive to sign whatever must be signed,” I respond.

“Certainly, I will contact you when I require you to conclude the transfers,” he says. We continue to discuss transferring the remaining properties and accounts into my name.  Well, I guess I’m a billionaire now.  Not that I need this money, but I was blessed with it, so I will bless others.

At the conclusion of the meeting, my mind was racing with the possibilities of setting up an office in the barn. I had been making saddles for years, but recently had to halt my work due to the move and the arrangements.

As I walked towards the barn, I could feel the excitement building up inside me. The barn had always been my favorite place to work, with its rustic charm and peaceful surroundings. Now that I was about to set up my office there, I couldn't wait to get started.

 I spent the next few hours clearing out the barn and setting up my office. I brought in my tools, my leather, and my workbench, and began to work on the first saddle. It felt great to be back at work, doing what I loved most.

This day has passed by in a blur. After I finished feeding the horses, I headed back to the house for dinner. I had ordered a delivery from a local chef for my meals, and I was looking forward to a hot meal after a long day of work. As I sat down to eat, I couldn't help but think about all the things I had accomplished today. It hadn't been easy, but I had managed to get everything on my list done.

As I sat on my couch, scrolling through endless videos on TikTok, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed a dog. I had always wanted one, but my busy schedule never allowed for it. However, the idea of hiring a farmhand to take care of the dog while I was away on business trips seemed like the perfect solution.

 I started making a mental list of everything I needed to do to prepare for my new furry friend. I needed to find a good breeder, pick out a breed that was suitable for my lifestyle, and of course, make sure I had all the necessary supplies.

As I continued to daydream about my future dog, I remembered how quiet my house could get at night. I decided to add a fan to my shopping list to provide some white noise while I slept.

With my plan in place, I finally decided it was time to hit the hay. As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but smile, thinking about the joy a new dog would bring into my life. I was ready to take on this new responsibility and provide a loving home for my future furry companion.

.